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From Orville Chester Brown to Friend Pomroy
[page 1]
Bellville Jef. Co[.] N.Y.
Dec[.] 12 1861
Friend Pomroy[,]
I see by the papers that the question of Slavery is squarely before Congress. Heretofore various means were resorted to, by politicians to put far away the evil day, and allow the barbaric institution to live on and multiply its victims, while it poisoned and demoralized not only the social and political system, but the most sacred fountains of justice. We are now reaping its ripe and bitter fruits in the rebellion of the Slave states.
In spirit every slave state has seceded. The leaders are slaveholders. The slave holders are nearly a unit in the rebellion.
Where are the leading slave holders in Missouri that have come out for the Union, except "Old Milt" Magee?

These are two drafts of a letter written by Orville Chester Brown to his friend Pomroy on December 12, 1861. Brown decries the evil of slavery, declaring that it has “poisoned and demoralized not only the social and political system, but the most sacred fountains of justice.” Congress will be meeting soon to discuss slavery, Brown says, and he hopes that they will end “the barbaric institution.” If slaves are legal property, he reasons, and if Congress has passed laws confiscating the property of rebels, then the rebels’ slaves should be confiscated and set free.

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From Orville Chester Brown to Friend Pomroy
[page 1]
Bellville Jef. Co[.] N.Y.
Dec[.] 12 1861
Friend Pomroy[,]
I see by the papers that the question of Slavery is squarely before Congress. Heretofore various means were resorted to, by politicians to put far away the evil day, and allow the barbaric institution to live on and multiply its victims, while it poisoned and demoralized not only the social and political system, but the most sacred fountains of justice. We are now reaping its ripe and bitter fruits in the rebellion of the Slave states.
In spirit every slave state has seceded. The leaders are slaveholders. The slave holders are nearly a unit in the rebellion.
Where are the leading slave holders in Missouri that have come out for the Union, except "Old Milt" Magee?